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Our History

From the humble beginning of one tractor and two dump trucks, C.W. Matthews and two local businessmen formed a company in 1946 after he returned from the World War II Pacific Theater.

Their goal was to provide grading services for farm ponds. In 1954 Mr. Matthews formed C.W. Matthews Contracting Co., Inc. and three years later made the pivotal decision to enter the plant-mixed asphalt business.

The next decade was busy with defense work for the Armed Forces, concentrating on reconstruction of runways and taxiways at military bases throughout the Southeast.

In 1967 the founder's oldest son, Bob, graduated from the University of Georgia Law School. Following military service and a tour in Vietnam, he returned to work in the family business as president and established branch offices in North Carolina and Florida. The next expansion was the acquisition of a bridge and culvert company and a sizeable grading contractor, transforming C.W. Matthews Contracting Co. into a multi-faceted general contractor in highway and heavy construction. Bolstering its position as one of the leading producers of plant-mixed asphalt, the Company began acquiring single plant operators in addition to erecting new asphalt plants at strategic locations around metropolitan Atlanta and north Georgia.

A few years later, in a position to accept more challenges, C.W. Matthews Contracting Co. devoted assets, management capabilities, and skilled workers to the daunting task of improving Atlanta's Hartsfield International Airport through the Midfield Terminal Expansion Program. Additionally, the MARTA rail system and the $1 billion expansion of Atlanta's freeway system provided opportunities for growth and expansion. C.W. Matthews Contracting Co. continued its substantial market presence in the private sector through providing stone base and asphalt paving for the residential and commercial projects resulting from Atlanta's explosive population growth.

In the 1990's the Company aided in the construction effort of readying Atlanta for the 1996 Olympic Games through the addition of high occupancy vehicle lanes on I-75, constructed at night in order to maintain traffic flow during daylight hours.

The dawn of the 21st century provided opportunities in the brown field rehabilitation of the old Atlantic Steel plant site in downtown Atlanta. Today the Atlantic Station development and the adjoining 17th Street bridge are a testimony to the Company's dedication to quality, safety, and expedited project delivery.

Beginning in 2002, C.W. Matthews Contracting Co. served as the managing partner of a three-company consortium for the construction of the 5th Runway at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the largest public works project to date undertaken in the State of Georgia.

A thirty-eight year veteran of CWM, Bill Hammack has served in numerous capacities during his career including the company's Chief Operating Officer for the previous fifteen years prior to assuming the role as president in July of 2005.

In September 2006, CWM purchased the assets from Oldcastle of the Georgia andMacDougald Divisions of APAC-Southeast, Inc., which was the largest asphalt androadway contractor in Georgia. This acquisition doubled the size of CWM and greatlyexpanded the territory in which we supply product and services.

In early 2009, CWM began operating a new liquid asphalt storage facility which it constructed in Rockmart, Georgia. The facility is for internal use and has a capacity of 391,000 barrels in 11 tanks. The facility also has a plant that can produce 30 tons per hour of Polymer Modified Asphalt (PG Grade 76-22). The truck loading facilities are state of the art with computer automated self-loading capabilities. The control building for the facility contains a complete physical properties laboratory for quality control testing.

In 2012, CWM was proud to have been a part of constructing the International Terminal Roadways complex, ahead of schedule and within budget.

At the end of 2014, Bill Hammack, CWM's President and Chief Operating Officer, retired after a career of over 43 years with the company. During his tenure, he helped guide and facilitate changes within the Company to maintain its position as an industry leader.

Maintaining the family tradition, both Bob Matthews' son, Charles Matthews, and his son-in-law, Matt Burton, are actively involved in the management of the Company. Dayto-day operations and administration are handled by Daniel Garcia, appointed president of C. W. Matthews Contracting in 2015, and Michael Bell, as president of Matsco, Incorporated.

Ethics, honor, quality, and commitment to excellence continue to be a Matthews' tradition as the Company moves forward into the 21st century.